Psalms 73:4

4 For beholding is not to the death of them; and steadfastness in the sickness of them. (For it seemed that they never die; yea, they always be strong, and never get sick.)

Psalms 73:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death
Nothing that binds and straitens them, afflicts and distresses them; they have no pain of mind nor of body, but die at once, suddenly, in a moment, wholly at ease and quiet, without any bitterness of soul; see ( Job 21:13 Job 21:23 Job 21:25 ) , or "there are no bands until their death" ^F6; they have no straits nor difficulties all their life long, no distempers nor diseases which may be called "bonds", ( Luke 13:12 Luke 13:13 Luke 13:16 ) , till they come to die: the Vulgate Latin version is, "there is no respect to their death"; they take no notice of it, they have no care or concern about it; or, as the Targum,

``they are not terrified nor troubled because of the day of their death;''

they put it away far from them, and think nothing about it: but their strength is firm; they are hale and robust, healthful and sound, to the day of their death; their strength is not weakened in the way by diseases and distempers. Some take the word rendered "strength" to signify a porch or palace, and translate it, they are strong as a palace, or in a palace, or their palace is strong ^F7 their houses are well built, and continue long.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mtwml) "usque ad mortem eorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F7 (Mlwa) "palatium vel sicut palatium"; so some in Piscator; "porticus", Schmidt; so R. Jonah, Arama, and Jerom.

Psalms 73:4 In-Context

2 But my feet were moved almost; my steps were shed out almost. (But my feet almost stumbled; my steps almost slipped.)

3 For I loved fervently on wicked men; seeing the peace of sinners. (For I envied the wicked; when I saw the prosperity of the sinners.)

4 For beholding is not to the death of them; and steadfastness in the sickness of them. (For it seemed that they never die; yea, they always be strong, and never get sick.)

5 They be not in travail of (other) men; and they shall not be beaten with men. (They do not have trouble, or tribulation, like other people do; and they be not beaten down like others be.)

6 Therefore pride hath held them; they were covered with their wickedness and unfaithfulness.